FIBA Europe Cup: Underwhelming start to Round of 32 for Baltic teams

17.12.2015, BBL Media Service; Photo: FIBA Europe Cup

Four of the five Triobet BBL clubs successfully advanced to the Round of 32 in the inaugural edition of the FIBA Europe Cup, but the second stage of competition is proving to be much more challenging, with all four Baltic sides starting off on the wrong foot and suffering defeats.

Were the teams not to advance to the elimination rounds of the continental competition, they would join Triobet BBL from the Play-Offs. To keep you up-to-date with the situation of our clubs, BBL.net brings you the latest updates from Europe in a weekly round-up.

CEZ Nymburk 88-64 Ventspils

Ventspils was the most successful Baltic team in the regular season of the FIBA Europe Cup, winning all six games, but it did not help the Latvian club to start the Round of 32 with a win. The seasiders suffered a big 88-64 defeat in Group P at the hands of CEZ Nymburk in Czech Republic.

Estonian champions TU/Rock couldn’t come away with a win to start the action in Group R, falling short 76-67 to Elan Chalon on the road in France. It was a very close game for the most part and the hosts only managed to run away with the lead midway through the final frame.

Karolis Petrukonis recorded a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds in a losing effort for TU/Rock, Janar Talts collected 14 points and dished out five assists, while Gert Dorbek finished the game with 11 points and six dimes.

STB Le Havre 98-84 Pieno Zvaigzdes

Pieno Zvaigzdes ended up on the wrong side of a high-scoring game in Le Havre, coming back to Lithuania having started their Group S campaign with a 98-84 loss to STB Le Havre. Former Zalgiris guard Willie Deane, who finished the game with 29 points,was a mystery Mantas Sernius and his side could not solve. The French side made 69% of their field goals, also going 11-of-18 from three-point range.

For Pieno Zvaigzdes, Ramone Moore had a team-high 19 points and five assists, Andriy Agafonov collected 14 points, while Lauris Blaus finished the night with 13 points and five rebounds.

Belfius Mons-Hainaut 77-57 Juventus

After falling behind by double digits early, Juventus had to concede defeat to Belfius Mons-Hainaut in Group T, losing the away game in Belgium 77-57. A bad start of the game got the Lithuanian side out of their rhythm, as they failed to put any pressure on the hosts and allowed them to cruise to an easy win.

Spencer Butterfield was one of the few bright spots for Juventus, as the American guard scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds in 35 minutes of action. Meanwhile, Egidijus Dimsa and Chavaughn Lewis chipped in with 11 points apiece.